Reviews

"Beautiful City, Great Schools"

Nestled in Hennepin County, Minnesota, the city of Wayzata sits in the western metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. With Minneapolis and St. Paul in easy commuting distance, Wayzata is an idyllic suburb thats home to approximately 4,200 people, though it remains a popular tourist destination for Twin Cities residents due to its scenic location on the shores of Lake Minnetonka.

In addition to its waterside location, Wayzata is also host to some of the Minneapolis areas top public schools, with Wayzata High School ranking among the top 1000 public high school in America, according to Newsweek. With Minneapolis just eleven manageable miles away, Wayzata is a charming hamlet with unparalleled access to the Twin Cities. In fact, Wayzata is among the most desirable of Minneapolis suburbs, with plenty of recreational opportunities, access to major Minnesota and Twin Cities area thoroughfares, and much more.

For history buffs, Wayzata has a fascinating backstory since its settling by a sub-tribe of the Dakota Indians around 1700CE. Just as the large body of water Wayzata presides over invited early settlers, it remains a major attraction in the Minneapolis area, especially for those looking to buy a home near the water in the Minneapolis area, or in a suburb of the Twin Cities. Described as a gateway to Lake Minnetonka, its no wonder that the city of Wayzata boasts endless charm, once used to draw resort visitors from the Twin Cities metro area. Today, Wayzata still maintains a charming downtown area, perfect for strolling shops and small businesses along the lakefront. During the 1950s, the city of Wayzata nearly doubled in size after annexing land from the surrounding areas of Minnetonka, Plymouth, and Orono nearby. In that same area, new construction skyrocketed to accommodate a growing post-war population, with mainstays like the Wayzata Bay Center cropping up to serve the needs of Wayzata residents.

For those looking for family friendly homes in a trendy suburb of Minneapolis, there are plenty of families in Wayzata, with over 1,041 families in the area. Whats more, Wayzata is home to a variety of Minnesota businesses, including TCF Bank, Cargill Inc., and more. Families seeking to buy a home in the Minneapolis area would be wise to consider Wayzata, especially considering its top ranked school district, as part of Independent School District 284, which serves all of Wayzata and parts of other Twin Cities suburbs with homes for sale, as well, including Plymouth, Corcoran, Hamel, Maple Grove, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka, and Orono. Some of the top schools in Wayzataideal for families shopping for homes in the Minneapolis suburbsinclude Gleason Lake Elementary, West Middle School, Sunset Hill Elementary, Plymouth Creek, Oakwood, Kimberly Lane, Greenwood, the Highcroft campus of the Blake School, and many more.

For outdoorsy types looking to buy a home or condo in the Minneapolis area, in search of a small town feel with access to both nature and the Twin Cities, Wayzata has a plethora of recreational opportunities for all tastes, individuals, and families. The Dakota Rail Trail is a 13.5 mile paved regional trail that arcs around Lake Minnetonka, winding through Wayzata and a variety of nearby suburbs as well. Theres also Wayzata Beach, located downtown, that provides immediate water access to Lake Minnetonka for recreation such as picnicking, swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding, boating. Wayzata Beach recreational area also offers volleyball courts, playing fields, and a playground.

For those looking to buy a home in the Minneapolis area, who are in search of a trendy suburb in commuting distance, with a host of amenities, look no further than Wayzata. With the help of a top rated and experienced Minneapolis area real estate team, you could find the home of your dreams in the Twin Cities region. Whether youre looking for an affordable Minneapolis home to buy, a home to buy for families, or a home in a Minneapolis suburb, there are plenty of inventory options in Wayzata. Contact the Doyle Real Estate Team for any of your housing needs. www.doylerealestateteam.com
http://doylerealestateteam.com/communities/wayzata/

"The most popular City on Lake Minnetonka"

Having grown up the in neighboring community of Orono, I have many fond memories of this fine city. What's now coined "Marquee Place", housing premier executive suites and three restaurants for business lunches and dinners, used to be the Wayzata Theatre. And yes, movies were only a dollar! I live and work in Wayzata. And, I would be remiss if I didn’t strongly recommend you stop in to McCormicks restaurant. Their service is fantastic and the food is delish! St Bartholomew Catholic School (St. Barts), located at Broadway and Wayzata Blvd., is a premier school serving your pre school and K-6 youths. For those of you seeking a quiet yet active community during your golden years, the Regatta offers 59 luxury residences for your upscale lifestyle. Welcome home!

"Gotta Love the Lake!"

Kids Want to Swim?

With its prime location on Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata’s swimming beach is a favorite among local families. The beach, located at 220 Grove Lane East, is open to the public from mid-June to mid-August. A lifeguard is on duty from noon until 6 p.m. seven days a week.

The Luce Line State Trail is a 63 mile long former railroad grade which is developed for biking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and skiing. The limestone surfaced trail runs from Plymouth 30 miles west to Winsted, with a parallel treadway for horseback riding. From Winsted to Hutchinson, the trail is gravel, from Hutchinson to Cedar Mills it is crushed granite and Cedar Mills to Cosmos it is Natural (mowed grass). Snowmobiles are allowed on the trail west of Stubb's Bay Road.

The Dakota Rail Regional Trail is a popular attraction for bikers, in-line skaters and hikers. The 13-mile paved trail offers spectacular views of the lake and passes through a variety of scenic areas, including wetlands, wooded areas and agricultural land. In Carver County, an additional 12.5-miles of paved trail extends west of St. Bonifacius to Mayer.

Wayzata is a perfect place to start your trip on the Dakota Rail. You can grab lunch and supplies in downtown Wayzata. Then head to the Dakota Rail trailhead, at 175 Grove Lane, where you can park your car in one of the spaces reserved for trail riders.

Looking for a Lake Home?

There are many great lakeshore properties available to choose from... and if you're budget is a little less... you can walk a block or two and lower your mortgage:)

"Wayzata Homes & Real Estate"

Wayzata

Wayzata is a suburb in Minnesota that is characterized by its lakeside village earning for it the moniker “jewel of Lake Minnetonka”. True to form, Wayzata is the best location for anyone who wants to get a good view of the famous Twin Cities Lake. Despite a thriving business community, Wayzata has managed to maintain its small town ambiance along with plenty of parks and open spaces.

This city is an interesting place not only during summertime when you get to watch the passing cruisers and sailboats but also during wintertime when ice racers and skaters abound. Life’s modern amenities are also present in Wayzata including a wide-range of restaurants, fashion stores and home accessories making it an ideal place not only for short visits but also for relocation.

Population Profile

With a small population of only 4,113 people divided into 1,929 households, Wayzata is considered a small to medium-size city with a population density of 1,292.6 persons for every square mile of land. Majority or 96.11% of the population are Whites followed by Asians (1.34%) and a mixture of African Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and other races.

The average family income in Wayzata is $96,859 while the city’s per capita income is $63,859. Residents have a fairly comfortable life with only 2.3% of the entire population living below the poverty line. This is understandable as Wayzata is surrounded by the growing economies of Plymouth and Minnetonka, not to mention Wayzata’s growing reputation as a financial center.

History

The name Wayzata, which is sourced from the Sioux word Wayzata, evokes memories of the Indian settlement along Lake Minnetonka. The lake, which the settlers called “Big Water”, was an ideal site both for fishing and hunting. However, the settlers were forced out of the area after France claimed the land and sold it to the United States.

The pioneering family of Oscar E. Garrison settled in the area in 1852 and filed a claim for the land in 1854. A year after, Wayzata saw the construction of its first sawmill along with the first hotel and blacksmith shop. The growing economy of the Wayzata settlers (which relied on corn and wheat) was threatened by a grasshopper plague. Ultimately, it became a center for ginseng roots which were collected in the surrounding forests and sold to the Orient as an aphrodisiac.

One important part of Wayzata’s history is its development as a resort town area which was brought about by the influx of commercial steamboats operating within Lake Minnetonka. Tourists started to flock in the area after the Civil War. The extension of the tracks of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad to Wayzata made the area more accessible and was responsible for the construction of hotels and other commercial establishments in Wayzata. The start of the Gilded Age of Wayzata also saw the construction of an 800-room hotel in Minnetonka beach named Lafayette Hotel.

Wayzata is a living proof of the common economic boom and bust. And after the tourists moved on, Wayzata was established as a separate government entity with its own council. Ironically, the first act of the village council was to force the removal of the railroad track which was responsible for the economic boom in the area. The removal of the track took away Wayzata from the map resulting to an economic slump. A change of heart of the council led to the construction of the finest track in Wayzata.

"Wayzata - You can have it all!"

If you are looking for the nicest community in Minneapolis to buy your home, Wayzata is the place. Wayzata has a vibrant downtown with amazing shopping, dining and enertainment. Walk or bike thru Wayzata along the shore of Lake Minnetonka. Lake Minnetonka has 120 miles of shoreline and it is over 14,000 acres making it the "Crown Jewel" of Minnesota lakes. Wayzata has many sought after neighborhoods and boasts one of the top School Districts in Minnesota. Come for a visit and stay for a lifetime.

"The Best of Both Worlds"

Wayzata has a small town feel, but has everything a suburb city of Minneapolis could want. The population is just right and the balance of business, families, sustainable housing, commercial, and retail is perfect. The amount of time, thought, planning, money and effort that has gone into this city is incredible. The proximity to highways, lakes, trails, downtown, sports fields, parks etc. is perfect. I absolutely LOVE living here. Not to mention the Schools, families, kids, empty nesters etc. An ideal blend of people and places.